JJL and I had an off-list correspondence about beer and I found out that the man is a pretty hardcore brewer. Trust an O/C biologist if you want it done right.

I brew a extract clone of McEwan's from an internet recipe that is very good. The recipe is on http://www.stoutbillys.com/stout/PRODUCTN.htm. They have a zillion (roughly) recipes on their website which vary from simple to very complex. Narwahl, they have a a wide array of belgian clones, too. I don't know anything about the sales part of stoutbilly.

Most of my supplies, ingredients and equipment from stpats.com out of Austin. A friend in Austin trades with them frequently and on his recommendation I began ordering from them, too. Competitive pricing with local sales and they've always been very helpful. I received a sterile liquid yeast culture once and they replaced it free of charge, no questions. True, its not much money but my loyalty is easily bought.

My favorite beers out of a bottle are #1 Skullsplitter (another assault on the liver from Scotland); #2 IPA from Deschutes Brewery; and Guinness, of course. One that I really like a lot is Canadian, "Raftman". Not sure what brewery. But its too expensive down here for me to drink it very often. If I'm gonna spend a lot of money on alcohol, I buy a bottle of 15 yr old Glenmorangie (someday I'll steal from my kids lunch money and buy a bottle of 18).

But I'm really a beer slut. If I'm hot I'll drink a Bud or Miller. Thats what I call "lawnmowing beer."